Introduction To Hasidism Instructor: Avi Blitz Syllabus Outline for Young Judea Year Course in Israel Hasidism is a religious revivalist movement which began in Eastern Europe during the eighteenth century. At its outset it captured the imagination of both the masses and the scholarly. Based on both deep kabalistic principles and simple ideas of piety Hasidism became one of the most influential forces in Eastern European Jewry throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century. At the onset of World War Two and the Holocaust, although the movement was in decline, large communities of Hasidim still occupied the major cities and shtetlach (villages) of Eastern Europe. The destruction of European Jewry during the Holocaust completely decimated the Hasidic movement. It seemed as if the great influence of Hasidism had come to a tragic end. However, this revivalist movement refused to die and transplanted itself to the shores of America and the new fledgling State of Israel. In this course we will study the history and theology of the Hasidic movement and how it developed from a small grass-roots movement to one of the basic institutional forces of Orthodox Judaism. We will examine how it was effected by and reacted with other ideological movements of the time, such as the established Yeshiva/Rabbinic world, the Enlightenment and Zionism. We will probe the modern world of Hasidism to see how, after losing as much as 70% of its members to the Holocaust, it has become once again a major force in the Jewish world. We will learn about modern neo-Hassidic movements and other Jewish spiritual movements which have been influenced by Hassidic thought. In our analysis we will use first hand sources such as the writings of the leaders of the movement ('Torahs'), various tales of the Hasidim, scholarly works analyzing Hasidic thought and society, media presentation of the Hasidim and visits and meetings with members of today’s Hasidic communities in Israel. Students will be assessed by a mid-term assignment (30%), a research project (40%) and class participation and attendance (30%). Internet sources must be cleared with the instructor in advance prior to their inclusion in any submitted work. Course Outline: Historical Context: Jewish Life in the 17th and 18th Centuries .1 Khmelnitski Massacres .1 Shabbtai Tzvi .2 Rabbinic Elite .3 Readings: Ben-Sasson, pp. 691-723 An Overview of Jewish Mysticism .2 The Tannaim: Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai .1 The Middle Ages: Ramban .2 16th Century Tzfat: Rabbi Yitchak Luria, Rabbi Yosef Caro .3 Readings: Kaplan, pp. Inner Space 3-20 Dan, pp. 1-19 The Ba’al Shem Tov .3 The Tradition of Ba’alei Shem .1 The Life of the Besht (Ba'al Shem Tov) in Legend .2 Joy and Prayer in the teachings of the Besht .3 Readings: Tzava'at HaRivash, p.13 Wiesel, pp.3-39 Dan, pp. 19-34 4/5. The Students of the Besht The Maggid of Mezeritch: The Crystallization of a Movement .1 Toldot Yaakov Yosef: The First Hasidic Author .2 Readings: Maimon, Solomon 49-55 Buber, Tales I, pp.98-117 Wiesel, pp. 40-42 6/7. The Creation of the Hasidic Schools/Dynasties Poland- R.Elimelech of Lizensk, Hozeh from Lublin and the Yid HaKodesh .1 Lithuania- R. Schnuer Zalman and R. Aharon of Karlin .2 Ukraine- Rav Mordechai Nahum of Chernobyl .3 Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev Stands Alone .4 Readings: Buber, Tales I pp. 253-285 Wiesel, pp. 89-112 Dan, pp. 73-75 8. Challenges to Traditional Jewish Life Changes in Prayer Form (Nusach Tefillah) .1 Ecstatic Prayer .2 The Ritual Slaughter (Shehita) Knife .3 Readings: Jacobs, Hasidic Prayer pp. 17-35, 93-103, 121-125 9. The Opposition- Misnagdim Rabbi Eliyahu - The Vilna Gaon .1 Excommunications .2 Rabbi Schnuer Zalman is Imprisoned .3 Readings: Ettinger (in Ben-Sasson), 768-776 Rabinowicz, pp. 42-50 10. Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav Meditation and Prayer .1 Speaking with G-d .2 Joy and Ecstasy .3 The Rebbe’s Tales .4 Readings: Mintz, pp. 1-21 Opatoshu pp. 99-104 Kaplan, Rabbi Nachman’s Stories, pp. 1-9, 31-54 11/12. From Kotzk To Isbicz Absolute Truth and the Kotzker Rebbe .1 The Kotzker Secludes Himself in a Room .2 Radical Thought of Rabbi Mordecai Yosef Leiner .3 Readings: Wiesel, pp. 228-254 Rabinowicz, pp.71-88 Gellman, pp. 23-39 13. Hasidic Thought Devekut - Clinging to G-d .1 “His Glory Fills the World” .2 “For the Sake of the Unification of the Holy One” L’shem Yichud… .3 Readings: Steinsaltz The Long Shorter Way, pp. 248-256, 317-323 Jacobs, pp. 140-153 14. Zionism and Hassidut Hassidim and Misnagdim Reconcile .1 Decline of the Hasidic Movement in the Early 20th Century .2 Creation of Agudat Yisrael .3 Readings: Mintz, pp. 28-36 Bacon pp. 71-91 15. Hassidut and the Holocaust Rebbe’s Advise Staying in Europe One. Admurim That Stayed in Europe- Rabbi Kolonimus Kalman Shapiro of Two. Piaezecz, Rabbi Israel Spira of Bluzhov Admurim That Escaped - Rabbi Yoel Teitlebaum of Satmar, Rabbi Three. Mordecai Alter of Gur, Rabbi Aaron Rokeach of Belz Readings: Landau, pp.130-149 Eliach, pp. xv-xxxii, 3-4, 33-36, 39-41, 48-50, 79-84, 88-91, 155-159 16. The Growth of Hasidism in America Bobov- ReGrouping .1 Bostoner Chasidim- A Distinct American Court .2 Hasidic Towns: Kiriyat Joel, Monsey .3 Readings: Mintz pp. 37-63 17. Traditional Hasidic Courts in Israel Relationship to the Modern State of Israel .1 Agudat Yisrael and Politics .2 Distinctive World of the Hasidim .3 Readings: Landau, pp. 32-40, 62-67 18. Ba’al Tshuva Movement The 60’s and Jewish Identity .1 Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach - Dancing, Singing Rabbi and his Holy 'Hipplach' .2 Readings: Aviad, pp. 13-53 Green, Itzik Lodzer: Psychedelics and Kabbalah, pp. 176-192 Green, After Itzik: Toward a Theology of Jewish Spirituality, pp. 193-204 19. Chabad and the Messiah The Routes of Messianism in Jewish Belief .1 Hassidut and the Messianic Idea .2 The Rebbe as Messiah - Has Chabad Crossed the Line? .3 Readings: Wiener, pp. 155-196 Landau, 68-84 20. The Role of the Rebbe in Streams of Orthodoxy The Rosh Yeshiva: Rav Shach, Rav Eliyashiv .1 The Rishon Letzion: Rav Ovadia Yosef .2 The Kabbalist: Rav Kaduri .3 Readings: Landau, pp. 43-54, 85-106 Melman pp. 97-106 21. Neo-Hasidic Movements and Radical Israeli Politics Habbakukniks .1 Hevron and Bat Ayin- Hasidism and Yesha .2 Nah, Nah, Nahman Me'uman .3 Readings: Sprinzak, pp. 30-32, 43-51 22. Hasidism Meets the New Age Kabbalah and the Rich and Famous .1 Renewal Judaism and Hassidic Spiritualism .2 Crystals, Meditation and Gurus .3 Readings: Green, Seek My Face, Speak My Name, pp. xiii-xxv, 82-89 Bibliography Aviad, Janet. Return to Judaism: Religious Renewal in Israel, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983. Bacon, Gershon. Prolonged Erosion, Organization and Reinforcement: Reflections on Orthodox Jewry in Congress Poland (up to 1914). Found in Major Changes within the Jewish People in The Wake of the Holocaust, Yisrael Gutman [ed.], Avital Saf [co-ed.] Jerusalem: Yad Vashem, 1996. Band, Arnold. (ed) Nahman of Bratslav: The Tales in Classics of Western Spirituality, New York: Pauline Press, 1980 Ben-Sasson, H.H., The Social Trends of Jewry at the End of the Middle Ages. Found in A History of the Jewish People, Ben-Sasson, H.H [ed.] Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1976. Buber, Martin. For the Sake of Heaven (Gog and Magog), Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1945. Tales of the Hasidim: Early Masters, New York: Schocken, 1947. Tales of the Hasidim: Later Masters, New York: Schocken, 1948. Ten Rungs: Hasidic Sayings, New York: Schocken, 1947 Dan, Joseph. The Teachings of Hasidism, New York: Behrman House, 1983. Eliach, Yaffa. Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust, New York: Vintage Books, 1982. Elior, Rachel. Between “HaYesh l’Ayin”- Studies in the Torah of the Tzaddik R’ Yaakov Yitzhak the Seer of Lublin, (Hebrew) Found In: Israel Bartal, Rachel Elior, Chone Shmeruk (editors), Hasidism in Poland (Hebrew), Jerusalem: Bialik Institute, 1994. Changes in the Religious Thought in Hassidut Poland, Tarbitz, Volume LXII- Number 2: January-March, 1993. Gellman, Jerome. A Hasidic Interpretation of the Binding of Isaac: Rabbi Leiner of Izbica, Found In: Between Religion and Ethics, Avi Sagi, Daniel Statman (eds), Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University Press, 1993. Green, Arthur. (ed) Menachem Nahum of Chernobyl: Upright Practices, The Light of the Eyes, New York: Paullist Press, 1982. Your Word is Fire: The Hasidic Masters on Contemplative Prayer, New York: Schocken, 1987. Lodzer, Itzik: Psychedelics and Kabbalah, Found in: The New Jews, James A. Sleeper & Alan L. Mintz (eds), New York: Vintage Books, 1971, pp.176-192. After Itzik: Toward a Theology of Jewish Spirituality, Found in The New Jews, James A. Sleeper & Alan L. Mintz (eds), New York: Vintage Books, 1971, pp. 193-204. Seek My Face, Speak My Name: A Contemporary Jewish Theology. Northvale, New Jersey: Jason Aronson Inc., 1992. Hundert, Gershon David. Essential Papers on Hasidism, New York: New York University Press, 1991. Jacobs, Louis. Jewish Mystical Testimonies, New York: Schocken, 1976. Hasidic Prayer. London: Littman 1972, 1993. Kaplan, Aryeh. (trans.) Rabbi Nahman’s Stories, New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1983. (trans.) Rabbi Nahman’s Wisdom. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1973. (trans.) Outpouring of the Soul, New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1980. Inner Space, New York: Moznaim Publishing Corporation, 1990. Landau, David. Piety and Power, The World of Jewish Fundamentalism, New York: Hill and Wang, 1993. Maimon, Solomon. Solomon Maimon: An Autobiography, New York: Schocken, 1947. Melman, Yossi. The New Israelis: An Intimate View of a Changing People, New York: Carol Publishing Company, 1992.